St Francis of Assisi News

Dear Parents & Caregivers,

Welcome to the first official newsletter of the new year! It's been a hot return but the children and staff have coped well given the uncomfortable nature of the weather. We have now entered the Noongar Season of Bunuru which occurs during February and March. It marks the transition between the hot and dry season of Djilba and the cooler and wetter season of Djeran. The word "bunuru" means "hot," which perfectly describes the weather over last week and the next seven days. The temperature has soared and the sun has been very intense. Bunuru is a season of abundance and renewal, as it is when many plants and animals thrive. The Noongar people would take advantage of the warm weather to hunt animals like kangaroos and emus, and gather bush foods such as yams and zamias. They would also engage in cultural activities, sharing stories and passing down traditional knowledge to the younger generations. Bunuru is a vibrant and energetic season that represents the Noongar people's deep connection with the land and their understanding of the cycles of nature.

FORECAST HOT WEATHER

There is a stretch of hot weather forecast over the next week which includes today and up until next Wednesday. With forecast temps in the high 30's please ensure your child has plenty of water and ice bricks in their lunch boxes to keep their food relatively cool. Children have access to the covered area for all their bags and there are two refrigerated water coolers outside Year 3 and 4 to refill water bottles. Every classroom is also air conditioned, including the hall to ensure a comfortable learning environment. As is practice all year round, please ensure your child comes to school wearing sun cream.

SEASON OF LENT

As Miss Campbell has alluded to below, this week also marked the beginning of Lent with our Ash Wednesday Mass. The season of Lent is a sacred and introspective time for Christians around the world. Beginning on Ash Wednesday and lasting for forty days (excluding Sundays), this season invites believers to prepare their hearts and minds for the glorious celebration of Easter. Lent is a time of fasting, prayer, and penance, mirroring the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness. It calls upon individuals to reflect upon their lives, repent for their sins, and seek a closer relationship with God. During this season, Christians often choose to give up certain luxuries or habits as a form of self-discipline and spiritual growth. Through acts of self-denial and sacrifice, Lent reminds us of the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. It is a season of deep reflection, personal transformation, and renewed commitment to living out our faith. A symbol of this renewal is the ashes placed on the forehead of the children on Wednesday - these ashes are from the burned palms from last years Palm Sunday.

PARENT INFORMATION VIDEOS

After the large positive response we received to our parent videos last year, we have again prepared parent information videos for parents to view at their own leisure for children in PP-6. The Kindy Parent Information afternoon will go ahead on Wed 14th Feb @ 3pm. However, if your child is in PP-6, next Tuesday you will receive an electronic copy of the parent information booklet along with a link to view a short 5-10min video by the classroom teachers about the upcoming year. Please take the time to view these videos and you are welcome to contact the classroom teacher individually should you require more detailed information or have some queries regarding your child.

NEW FAMILIES

A big welcome to all the new families beginning at our school this year. Along with all our 3yo Pre-Kindy and Kindy children who are starting their St Francis journey, we have a number of new children and families who have joined our community:

PPB Ryan Hearnshaw

PPW Nicholas Leken Chapman

PPW Lottie Corrigan

PPW Elisha Patrick

PPW Rian Yapp

YR 1B Wieu Kuach

YR 1W Adelyn Patterson

YR 1W Reece Yapp

YR 2B Nicholas Donatti

YR 2B Aubrey Lawrence

YR 2W Kyle Hearnshaw

YR 3W Matilda Leken Chapman

YR 3W Atuer Kuach

YR 3W Ayva Rakena

YR 3W Jacinta De Dut

YR 4W Cooper Hince-Allpress

YR 5B Angellica Kumai

YR 5B Kuach Kuach

YR 5W Alistair Lawrence

YR 6W Reese Shannon

P&F OFFICE BEARERS AND CLASS REPS 2024

Welcome to all our existing and new P&F members this year and we look forward to working with parents to continue to support our children's facilities and experiences at St Francis of Assisi. In 2024, our official Office Bearer positions have been filled by the following parents. These roles will be up for election at the end of this year for any parents wishing to take on a greater responsibility as an office bearer in 2025.

Chairperson - Rose Canzirri

Vice Chair - Stephenie Kunder

Secretary - Erin Hawes

Treasurer - Heidi Durer-Jones

Thank you to those individuals for agreeing to take on an Office Bearer role. We also welcome the below parents to the role of Class Representative in 2024. This role acts as the conduit to the P&F and these individuals will work together to ensure P&F information is shared through class Facebook Pages:

Sarah Schulz & Teneeka Paige (Kindy)

Alannah Flick & Vanessa Bonakey (PP)

Meg Goldie, Kristy Srbinovski & Rebecca Haddad (Year 1)

Emma Stratfold & Danica McAllister (Year 2)

Leteesha Magistro, Christine Knowles & Rachael Fox (Year 3)

Heidi Durer-Jones & Danica McAllister (Year 4)

Maria Robinson & Faye Morgan (Year 5)

Jacqui Reynolds & Linda Ridley (Year 6)

SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL (SAC) MEMBERS 2024

Once again our School Advisory Council will oversee financial matters within our school along with supporting me in my decision making around strategic matters in the school. Our strong financial governance can be attrituted to the wisdom and expertise of our members of the SAC. In 2024, the SAC members will include:

Parish Priest - Father Darek

Chairperson - Tony Summers

Vice Chair - Janelle Prunster

Treasurer - Craig Grantham

Secretary - Laura Hampson

P&F Rep - Stephenie Kunder

Member - Jacinta Lynton

Member - Jevita Nilson

SCHOOL FEE STATEMENTS

A reminder to all parents that school fee statements for 2024 have been emailed to all parents and ALL forms need to be returned by February 23rd. Regardless of your payment option, please return your form signed and dated with your choice of payment schedule. Fees can be paid in a single lump sum, semesterly (2), quarterly (3 or 4), monthly (9), fortnightly (18) or weekly (36). All fees need to be finalised by 29th November, 2024.

LOCAVORA LUNCH ORDERS 2024

Our first week of lunch orders seems to have transitioned smoothly. If you are new to the school or are yet to set up your Locavora account, please follow the directions on our website or the attachment below. Lunches are available from Monday - Thursday in 2024.

https://schools.locavora.com.au/

FAMILY FUN NIGHT

The annual P&F Family Fun Night will be taking place next Friday between 5-7pm and all children and families are encouraged to attend. We are fortunate that due to such overwhelming support from our families, this event is put on FREE by the P&F. It is a great way to start the year in welcoming returning families and also embracing new families and children into the SFOA community.

RUNNING CLUB - FRIDAYS

We had a fantastic turn out to Miss K's Kilometres (Running Club) this morning with over 100 children getting active and running. Due to Miss K being in class on a Thursday (5B) we have decided to move Running Club to Fridays starting from Week 2 (Friday 16th Feb). There will be music, Friday vibes and faction shirts everywhere so please come down and end your week on a good note! Parents, we would love you to participate and if running is not your thing, then help Miss K mark down laps at the end of the session. If we see you standing around, we assume you are volunteering!

2024 PUPIL FREE DAYS AND TERM DATES

Please see below the relevant holiday and Pupil Free days for the year. A reminder to parents that should you wish to take your child out of school during term time for a family holiday or other extended leave, there is an Extended Leave Form on our website that needs to be completed. This is required as documentation for the Department of Education to record students whereabouts if they are away for an extended period not due to illness.

The weather is getting very uncomfortable in the coming week so hoping everyone can stay cool and out of the heat.

Have a great fortnight ahead.

Best Wishes

Jason Baker

Principal

Welcome back to all our families, and a special welcome to all our families who are joining us for the first time. In visiting our Yrs 3-6 and working in each of our Junior classes, I have been impressed at how well everyone has settled into school. It's lovely to see so many smiling faces around the school.

LENT

During Lent we are called to live like Jesus. We are called to prayer, to give to the poor and less fortunate and to abstain or fast to strengthen our faith over the 40 days of Lent.

Why 40 days?

The Gospel according to Matthew (4:1-11) tells us that following his Baptism, Jesus was led into the desert by the Holy Spirit, where he was tempted by the devil for 40 days, but he resisted and survived each temptation by relying completely on the love of God. As we begin a new Lenten season, reflecting on Jesus' time and temptation in the desert serves as a guiding beacon of hope. He, too, was tempted, just as we all are; yet he proved that through steadfast prayer and total reliance on God the Father, temptation loses its power. So what does this mean for children?

40 days is a long time to a small child. Instead of giving up or fasting from one thing for 40 days, an alternative is to fast from something different each week of Lent. Lent is not just about giving up lollies or chocolate.

As Lent is a time to prepare our hearts as well as our minds and bodies, we should consider other ideas - fasting from gossiping or from negative thoughts about ourselves - things that can have a lasting positive impact for ourselves and others.

Prayer

Children are invited to pray each day in class, but during Lent we encourage children to keep other children who are living in difficult conditions (eg. children in other countries experiencing humanitarian crises or war, close in our hearts. We also say special prayers for our family and friends who may be ill or suffering. Please also keep our SFoA families and friends in your prayers.

Alms Giving

We encourage all children to give to Project Compassion during Lent to help other children less fortunate than we are. Almsgiving is a sign of our care for others and an expression of our gratitude for all that God has given us. Almsgiving by Christians is illustrated in the Bible, in Acts 4:33–37. During Lent you might reflect on the many ways in which we are privileged. Let’s be courageous enough to make changes and go without during each week of Lent. Perhaps it’s forgoing a few snacks, ice creams, McDonalds... the many small luxuries we consume each week. We can place the money saved in our Project Compassion boxes. Your commitment to Project Compassion is your response to the call to BE MORE for social justice.

Abstinence & Fasting

Fasting is one of the most ancient practices linked to Lent. Abstaining from meat traditionally linked us to the poor, who could seldom afford meat for their meals. In young children, we DO NOT encourage them to fast from healthy foods, including meat, due to their age and the need to provide for their growing bodies. Instead, we encourage them to fast from things that are not necessary to survival, eg. fast food, cool drink, easy snacks. We encourage them to choose other ways to ‘fast’ such as fasting from social media, technology (for fun), fasting from arguing with parents or fighting with siblings. Discuss ways your family can fast this Lent - the words of Pope Francis at the top are a great conversation starter with children.

The goal of every Christian is to leave Lent a stronger and more vital person of faith than when we entered.

PROJECT COMPASSION

This year proceeds donated to Project Compassion will benefit children and families in the Ukraine, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Mozambique, India, Australia, Democratic Republic of Congo and the Solomon Islands. Please give generously. As little as 5c a week can make a huge impact.

SACRAMENT OF FIRST RECONCILIATION

The Sacrament of First Reconciliation

God Bless

This year we have welcomed some new staff to our school community and I thought I would take the opportunity to introduce them via the newsletter each fortnight. This week's spotlight is on Mr John Haydon (4W):

1. Most Used App on Your Phone?

Facebook

2. My Signature Dish?

Chicken Wraps

3. If I Could Invite 3 People Around for Dinner (alive or dead!)?

Steven Gerrard, Napoleon Bonaparte, Lionel Messi

4. Hidden Talent?

I can juggle three balls

5. Toilet roll on the holder - Under or Over?

Toilet Roll Over - of course!

Welcome Mr Haydon! I look forward to chatting over a chicken wrap in the staffroom!

Dear Parents,

As mentioned by Mr Baker earlier in this newsletter, 2024 school fee annual statements/payment option forms were emailed to all families. If you have not received your statement, please contact the office ASAP. As mentioned, ALL Payment Options forms need to be signed with your payment preference and sent back to the school by no later than Friday 23rd February.

All families on Centrelink Health Care Card (HCC) need to provide the school with their current card to continue receiving the discount for 2024. If your card has expired, please bring in your new card to the school office ASAP.

Kind regards,

Geneve Bastian

After School activities have commenced this week. Please be prompt in picking your child up after the activity has finished. If your child is interested, please see below for information & registration with the various Associations.

Ms Meagan Kruenert

Sports Teacher

The P & F have had a great start to the year and have welcomed back last year's executive committee and committee members. The Executive Committee for 2024 is:

Rose Canzirri - Chair Person

Stephenie Kunder - Vice Chair Person

Heidi Durer-Jones - Treasurer

Erin Hawes - Secretary

All events organised by the P & F are communicated by letters sent home and Facebook posts, so there are multiple ways to hear about our upcoming events and initiatives.

Upcoming events:

The Family Fun night will be Friday 16th February from 5 pm until 7 pm. The event will include Pop Magic, Pony rides, Laser Tag, Bubble Soccer, Gym Bus, and a Reptile show. The P & F will be running a Sausage sizzle and will be looking for volunteers to assist with that on the night. We look forward to seeing you all there.

Our other upcoming events are the Cadbury Easter Egg fundraising initiative and the Easter Raffle. There will be more information to come next week.

Year group reps for 2024:

We would like to thank our year group reps as mentioned by Mr Baker who have volunteered to take on the role for 2024. This is an important job and fosters a great community spirit amongst the year group.

The P & F committee is here to add strength to our school community through fundraising and friend-raising (community engagement), and we look forward to your ongoing support.

Happy Birthday to the following students who are celebrating their birthday over the next two weeks:

Elijah Crosby, Brayden King, Grace Maggiotto, Erana Davis, Darina Domkoc, Elisha Patrick, Ava Goodwin, Noah Hughes, Eliza Hommel, Pranshi Bulgannavar, Anger Ajo, Josephine Lauridsen, Dennis Korzhov, Sebastian Gauvain, Mack Lynton, Samarra Dock, Siara Westerhout, Nevada Weko-Hauraki, Piper Morrison, Vivienne Liron, Oscar Thistlethwaite, James Curran, Destiny Cooper, Ryu-Iann Uriarte, Poppy Hicks, Gabriel Atuer, Chase Carrara, Jasmine Moffatt, Olivia Pearce, Nicolas Newton.

We wish you all a wonderful day!!

Friday 9 February - Merit Assembly (8:45am)

Tuesday 13 February - Shrove Tuesday / Year 6 Beach Safety

Monday 12 February - Playgroup (8:40am)

Wednesday 14 February - Ash Wednesday Mass (1:45pm) / Kindy Parent Information Session (3:00pm)

Friday 16 February - Year 3 Performance Assembly (8:45am) / Family Fun Night (5:00pm-7:00pm)

Monday 19 February - Playgroup (8:40am)

Tuesday 20 February - Year 6 Beach Safety

Wednesday 21 February - All Sacraments Parent Information Night (6:00pm)

Friday 23 February - Year 6 Class Mass (8:45am)

Saturday 24 February & Sunday 25 February - Reconcilliation Commitment Masses

Sibling Discount Scheme Application form

If you have a child attending St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School and Irene McCormack Catholic College (IMCC) you may be eligible for a discount on tuition fees at IMCC. Please see information below. Application forms need to be filled out by a parent and returned to SFOA office and we will then forward the form onto IMCC.

The Uniform Shop is open on Tuesday mornings from 8:00am-9:00am during school terms.

Where: Operating out of the demountable at the rear of the school!

Ph: (08) 9204 1701

Email: mailto:sales@jfe.net.au

Address: 1/85 Guthrie St, Osborne Park 6017

Mon-Thur: 8:00am - 4:00pm

Friday: 8:00am - 3:30pm

Email: admin@stfrancisbutler.wa.edu.au
Website: www.stfrancisbutler.wa.edu.au
Location: 1051 Connolly Drive, Butler WA, Australia
Phone: (08) 9562 9500
Facebook: facebook.com/stfrancisbutler

Instagram: https://instagram.com/stfrancisbutler

Email: standrewsclarkson@gmail.com

Website: http://www.standrewsclarkson.com/
Location: 53 Belleville Gardens, Clarkson WA, Australia
Phone: (08) 9407 7512
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standrewsclarkson/

From the beginning of this year there will be a childrens' Mass every first Sunday of the month. Children from Kindergarten to Year 6 are invited to attend with their parents. The first Mass will be held this weekend Sunday 11th February at 9am.

St Andrew's Parish Mission Event 2024

An all-new Parish Mission Event presented by Bruce Downes - The Catholic Guy, will be held at St Andrew's Parish during Lent 2024.

Come along to four inspiring sessions that will take you on a life changing journey.

Be Changed... Be Renewed... Be Inspired.

Commencing Monday 11th March until Thursday 14th March 2024.

There will be two opportunities to attend on each day (8:30am and 7:30pm with Mass being celebrated prior to the start of the event at 8:00am and 7:00pm).

Free Admission (there will be a collection after each session).

We encourage you to share this information with family and friends.